Amitei-Bronfman is BYFI's companion program in Israel. Launched in 1998, the Amitim Program consists of a series of educational seminars for a diverse group of Israeli high school students from all over the country. The Amitim and the American Fellows have a week-long Mifgash during the summer, and another one during the Amitim's winter trip to the U.S. during their senior year.
amitei-bronfman
Get to know the Amitim
Shaked Applebaum, '00, is a medical student in Bucharest, Romania, where she participates in activities with the Romanian Jewish community. She is a member of the European Center for Jewish Students.
Zvi Benninga, ’02, studies psychology and social sciences and works as a high school instructor for extracurricular activities. After doing a year of community service with fellow Amitim in Garin Amit, he completed his military service in an Intelligence unit of the IDF.
Rotem Blau, ’02, served as a psychotechnic diagnostician in the IDF's recruiting office. Rotem now studies for a degree in theatre at Tel Aviv University.
Noam Burg, ’05, hails from Nataf, a small town in the Judean hills famous for its fresh air and rocks. He studied in a religious pluralistic Jerusalem high school and then at a post-high school yeshiva program at Kibbutz Maaleh Gilboa. He now serves in the IDF Intelligence Corps.
Nerya Cohen, ‘99, is a graduate student in the Revivim teacher training honors program at the Hebrew University and a law student at Bar Ilan University. His research deals with issues of Jewish identity and identification in the United States. He lives in Tel Aviv with his wife and child.
Elia Gupes Dadosh, 00', works as a teacher of History and Civics in Yeruham. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science and History at the Hebrew University. During her army service she served as a tour guide in Jerusalem. She lives in Beersheba with her spouse Gabi and their daughter Yael Miriam.
Matilda Dias, '98, works as a surveyor for the population census, but soon plans to begin a year as an emissary for the Jewish Agency in Santa Fe, Argentina. She completed the Agency's emissary course with Savion Medalion, '03, the current emissary to New Orleans—another Bronfman connection!
Yarden Gal, '03, studies psychobiology at the Hebrew University and works as an exhibit guide at the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem. After graduating high school, Yarden did a year of community service in Jerusalem with fellow Amitim in Garin Amit. Once in the army, Yarden served as an IDF spokesperson for Special Units and as the deputy speaker of the central command ("Pikud Merkaz").
Michal Gazer, ’01, is a third-year medical and life sciences student in Tel Aviv University. During her army service, she served as an Education officer, where she commanded an explanation unit at Beth Hatefutsoth—The Museum of the Jewish Diaspora, and also worked as a non-commissioned officer in Field Intelligence.
Ishai Gesundheit, '02, studies Jewish law at the Har Etzion Yeshiva, teaching and instruction at Herzog College, and humanities at the Open University. He is currently the Amitim Alumni Coordinator, and lives in Alon Shvut with his spouse Adi and their son Iftah.
Irena Gulko, '07, was born in the Ukraine and moved to Mizpe Ramon with her family when she was 9 months old. She studied in the HaShalom high school and majored in theatre and philosophy. She now serves in the IDF Air Force.
Giora Leibovitch, '01, is the owner and manager of the Bloom Bar in Tel Aviv. He has also directed science fiction film conventions at the Cinemateque. He is working on his high school matriculation tests, and plans to apply to medical school in a few years.
Noa Marom, '99, is studying for a certificate in text editing and doing screenplay writing studies in Tel Aviv. She works as a translator, an English teacher, and an occasional history teacher.
Esther Meyer, '01, is a graduate student in the Revivim teacher training honors program at the Hebrew University and studying for an advanced degree in Hebrew literature. She works in a prisoner rehabilitation hostel as a discussion leader for the NGO Mimizrah Shemesh, an organization focusing on Jewish identity, social responsibility, and justice. Before her army service, she did a year of community service with fellow Amitim in Garin Amit in Jerusalem.
Amos Oren, ’02, works as a counselor in the mechina (a pre-army youth enrichment program) affiliated with the Progressive Judaism Movement. He also studies at the Nisan Nativ Acting Studio, and make his home in Jaffa.
Tal Peleg, '98, is studying for a masters degree in clinical psychology and volunteers with victims of sexual assault. Tal has served as an Intelligence officer in the army, studied French in Paris, and worked in the Prime Minister's office.
Rotem Rosenberg, ‘99, is a graduate student in law at Tel Aviv University. In March, she began her clerkship in the office of the Public Defender. Rotem spent her military service as a producer at the IDF radio station "Galei Zahal".
Uri Rosen, ’02, studies medical research at Hadassah-Ein Kerem. He spent his military service in Palsar Nachal, an elite unit. After his service, he worked as an emissary at Camp Lakeland, Buffalo, NY and hiked in South America (mostly Patagonia).
Anat Zohar, ’00, finished her law degree at the Hebrew University and now works as an intern in the Criminal Law division of the State Attorney’s office. For the past four years, she has been an active member of the Jerusalem Students’ Dance Group.
Zvi Benninga, ’02, studies psychology and social sciences and works as a high school instructor for extracurricular activities. After doing a year of community service with fellow Amitim in Garin Amit, he completed his military service in an Intelligence unit of the IDF.
Rotem Blau, ’02, served as a psychotechnic diagnostician in the IDF's recruiting office. Rotem now studies for a degree in theatre at Tel Aviv University.
Noam Burg, ’05, hails from Nataf, a small town in the Judean hills famous for its fresh air and rocks. He studied in a religious pluralistic Jerusalem high school and then at a post-high school yeshiva program at Kibbutz Maaleh Gilboa. He now serves in the IDF Intelligence Corps.
Nerya Cohen, ‘99, is a graduate student in the Revivim teacher training honors program at the Hebrew University and a law student at Bar Ilan University. His research deals with issues of Jewish identity and identification in the United States. He lives in Tel Aviv with his wife and child.
Elia Gupes Dadosh, 00', works as a teacher of History and Civics in Yeruham. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science and History at the Hebrew University. During her army service she served as a tour guide in Jerusalem. She lives in Beersheba with her spouse Gabi and their daughter Yael Miriam.
Matilda Dias, '98, works as a surveyor for the population census, but soon plans to begin a year as an emissary for the Jewish Agency in Santa Fe, Argentina. She completed the Agency's emissary course with Savion Medalion, '03, the current emissary to New Orleans—another Bronfman connection!
Yarden Gal, '03, studies psychobiology at the Hebrew University and works as an exhibit guide at the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem. After graduating high school, Yarden did a year of community service in Jerusalem with fellow Amitim in Garin Amit. Once in the army, Yarden served as an IDF spokesperson for Special Units and as the deputy speaker of the central command ("Pikud Merkaz").
Michal Gazer, ’01, is a third-year medical and life sciences student in Tel Aviv University. During her army service, she served as an Education officer, where she commanded an explanation unit at Beth Hatefutsoth—The Museum of the Jewish Diaspora, and also worked as a non-commissioned officer in Field Intelligence.
Ishai Gesundheit, '02, studies Jewish law at the Har Etzion Yeshiva, teaching and instruction at Herzog College, and humanities at the Open University. He is currently the Amitim Alumni Coordinator, and lives in Alon Shvut with his spouse Adi and their son Iftah.
Irena Gulko, '07, was born in the Ukraine and moved to Mizpe Ramon with her family when she was 9 months old. She studied in the HaShalom high school and majored in theatre and philosophy. She now serves in the IDF Air Force.
Giora Leibovitch, '01, is the owner and manager of the Bloom Bar in Tel Aviv. He has also directed science fiction film conventions at the Cinemateque. He is working on his high school matriculation tests, and plans to apply to medical school in a few years.
Noa Marom, '99, is studying for a certificate in text editing and doing screenplay writing studies in Tel Aviv. She works as a translator, an English teacher, and an occasional history teacher.
Esther Meyer, '01, is a graduate student in the Revivim teacher training honors program at the Hebrew University and studying for an advanced degree in Hebrew literature. She works in a prisoner rehabilitation hostel as a discussion leader for the NGO Mimizrah Shemesh, an organization focusing on Jewish identity, social responsibility, and justice. Before her army service, she did a year of community service with fellow Amitim in Garin Amit in Jerusalem.
Amos Oren, ’02, works as a counselor in the mechina (a pre-army youth enrichment program) affiliated with the Progressive Judaism Movement. He also studies at the Nisan Nativ Acting Studio, and make his home in Jaffa.
Tal Peleg, '98, is studying for a masters degree in clinical psychology and volunteers with victims of sexual assault. Tal has served as an Intelligence officer in the army, studied French in Paris, and worked in the Prime Minister's office.
Rotem Rosenberg, ‘99, is a graduate student in law at Tel Aviv University. In March, she began her clerkship in the office of the Public Defender. Rotem spent her military service as a producer at the IDF radio station "Galei Zahal".
Uri Rosen, ’02, studies medical research at Hadassah-Ein Kerem. He spent his military service in Palsar Nachal, an elite unit. After his service, he worked as an emissary at Camp Lakeland, Buffalo, NY and hiked in South America (mostly Patagonia).
Anat Zohar, ’00, finished her law degree at the Hebrew University and now works as an intern in the Criminal Law division of the State Attorney’s office. For the past four years, she has been an active member of the Jerusalem Students’ Dance Group.